Garment-pressing machine



Oct.. s, 1939.

H. E. PAGE GARMENT-PRESS ING MACHINE Filed NOV. 20, 1936 2 SheetsQSheet l INVENTOR.

Oct. 3, 1939. H, E'. PAGE 2,175,127

GARMENT-PRESS1NG MACHINE Filed Nov. 2o, 1956 2 sheets-sheet 2 Over/omi Mill/e 'IIII'Il"IIlIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII[I4 INVENT OR.

Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNIT-eo lS'.IMlr1s,

' GARlVlZENT-PRESSLNG Herbert E. Page, Syracuse, N; Y.

agplication November 2o, -1936, Is a'qia1`1v0.1,111,875 9 Claims. (o1.` srs-41) T his invention relates to machines having an opening and closing movement, as garment machines, including relatively movable pressing elements, as'the Iso-called buck and head of a garment press.

More specifically itrelates to machines of the type shown in my" Pate'nt'No. 2,051,739 issued August A18, 1936, in Which the head or movable element is closed through a quick-acting short leverage necessitating 4but a small movement of the v actuating part, which maybe the piston or piston rod of a' cylinder and piston motor and goes under heavy pressure through a long leveragerequiring greater movement of the piston of The ordinary .Pressing machine, Whether Power or manually operated, is v( :Qnstructed and designed to produce pressure `between the pressing surfaces ata predetermined point, regardless of the amount 0f Vthickness 0f .the articles being pressed.

Therefore, if, for instance, such apress is set to produce the Vreailirehl pressure, when it is closed, upon Vapiece of relatively thin material, vthen if `Vit isattempted to pressathick piece of materiah eithertheeressereris then fouhdto be excessive or else the press is unable to complete the closing cycleat all.

In like manner, if thepressis set to press a material, Of mediumthmkhaatheh if .a thinner piece of material is substituted, the pressure will be too light, and again if athicker piece is pressed, the pressure will be too heavy. Furthermore, .the padding or ,thick @vering which is usually used on the buck or lower pressingv sur- .face of the presswears' down or'g'ets a permanent "set and this throws the press out of adjustment necessitating re-adjus'tment of the pressing' machine.

' .Likewise, if a press is adjusted to press a thick piece of material and athir'piece Iis pressed,

although the pressing mechanisnr. will go through all the motions of producing heavy pressure,"none will be produced.

YIn other Wordsthey thickness of the material pressed on a'pressing machinehas a direct relation to the amount' of`pressure applied to said material.

'En the machine of my patent, there is a time element or lost motion duri-ng the transfer from the short leverage tothe long leverage and also a manual adjustment of .the long leverage fulvcru'rn is required lto compensate for different thicknesses of Work'pieces.

` One of theA objects `of my invention is to prom Figures zand 3.'

vide simple and efcient mechanism which will bring 'the pressingsurfacesof the press together under' relatively' liglitpressure until the material .to be Apressedyis encountered and the resistance of lthe vmaterial itself to vthe ac t of 5 being Vpressed. v vill "serve `to"'automatically shift "i the lpress' mechanism' from light to heavy pressure position or from short to long leverages.

Therefore, regardless of what the thickness of th'ematerial isV thatI is being pressed, this mech- 1 0 anism vvvill produce the required uniform pressure, because the'material itself must be engaged .between the pressing'surfaces before the transfer tothe heavy pressure or long leverage mechanism: l .1.5

Another object is to provide a mechanism i having a oating fulcrum which automatically comes into use "as soon "as the pressing elements encounter a substancebetvveen'their pressing surfaces. f

Another object isto provide means to prevent the fulcrum from coming into play, unless the head of v the press is actually 'down upon 'the material to" be pressedor close to the material, in what known"as` safety rst position, sothat 25 if the operators hand is caught between the' pressing surfacesQlie'avy pressure will not be produced.

' Other objects will appear throughout the specification." Y The invention consists in the novel ,featuresr` andin 'thecombina'ltions and constructions hereinafter sety forth'and clair'ned. l'

In iescribing this invention, reference ishad to theaccompanying drawings in which like 35 characters designate corresponding parts in all 1"' the 'vieWs. 1`

',.Figure 1 isa side elevation of a pressing machine embodying one forrrifof 'my invention.

Figure 2 isa Vfrag'n'ir'tary detail viewV illus- 40 trating another mbdirnent of the' invention. Figure 3 is a fragmentary 'View illustrating a third embodiment ofthe" invention.' Figure.' 4 is anV enlarged fragmentary sectional vievv of the check valves" 'iri`the'ilsys'tems shovvn 45 The inventionbomprises, generally, a pressing machine in vvhiclth actuating or motor mecha- "riism is connected "to'aj lever;v which carries the movable "element or head, this being usually 5o styled'the yoke lever,` `Which mechanism is con-"` Ycylinder and piston motor.

lever through a short quick-acting leverage to move the press head quickly from open position toward closed position with a relatively small movement of the actuating mechanism or part, and through a long leverage and greater movement of the actuating mechanism or part to close the press under heavy pressure, with means, as a spring or its equivalent, for normally restraining relative movement of the connections and the yoke lever, together with a second means operable during the closing movement of the press or controlled in its movement by the closing of the press or by the movement of the yoke lever for holding said differential mechanism from movement as a unit with the yoke lever, so that it moves relatively to the yoke lever when the movable element or head encounters resistance in its closing movement. As the differential mechanism or connections include a lever element, the holding means is a follow-up fulcrum controlled in its follow-up movement by the closing of the press, so that whenever the press head encounters the resistance of the lower buck or pressing element, the differential lever fulcrums on the floating fulcrum, and, under the force of the actuating mechanism, moves labout its pivot relatively to the yoke lever and actuates the yoke lever to carry the head into i'lnal closed position through a long leverage.

The invention also preferably includes means .for delaying the holding of the fulcrum from movement in a retrograde direction, untilaftei' the press head has traveled a predetermined distance toward closed position or has traveled into what is known as safety-first position, as before explained.

I designates the frame of the machine which may be of any suitable construction. 2 and 3 designate respectively the lower pressing element or buck and the upper pressing element or head, the head being movable toward and from the buck 2. The buck is suitably supported on the frame or table of the machine in any suitable manner, as by the usual bracket or goose neck 4.

5 is the head carrying or yoke lever, this being pivotally mounted between its ends at 6 on an upwardly extending portion I of the frame in the rear of the buck 2. The head 3 is suitably carried at the end of the front arm of the yoke lever 5.

The actuating mechanism includes a suitable motor, here illustrated .as a reciprocating or a 8 designates the cylinder, and 9 the piston rod connected to the usual piston movable in the cylinder. The cylinder is pivotally mounted at IU to the frame to oscillate during the movement of the piston. The piston rod 9 constitutes an actuating part, which is connected through the differential connections or lever to the rear arm II of the yoke lever 5. The construction thus far described is substantially the same as in my patent referred to, and also the differential mechanism operated by the piston rod 9 is the same with the exception of the yielding restraining means for the differential lever and the follow-up fulcrum for the lever, to be presently described.

I2 designates the differential lever pivoted between its ends at I3 to the rear arm II of the Ayoke lever, and preferably near the rear end thereof. The differential lever I2, as here illustrated, extends in a general direction lengthwise of the arm I I of the yoke lever and its forwardly extending arm being relatively long. The piston Vrod S'is'pivotedv at I4 to the front end of the described. The lever I2 moves as a unit with the yoke lever 5 and is movable about its pivot relative to the lever 5, when the closing movement of the press head 3 is obstructed, as when it comes against the lower buck 2 or the work thereon. The lever I2 is normally held from pivotal movement relatively to the yoke lever 5 by yielding means, here shown as a spring I5 connected at one end to the rear arm II of the yoke lever 5 and at its other end to the lever I2, this spring being of sufficient strength to hold the lever I2 from pivotal movement, while the yoke lever is being actuated to start in motion and carry the press head 3 from wide open position to closed position or Where it encounters the resistance of the lower buck 2, or the spring is of suiiicient strength to overbalance the weight of the head 3 and front arm of the yoke lever 5., plus the force required to overcome the inertia of the head and yoke lever, when the press is open.

The follow-up means, as shown in Figure 1, consists of an extensible and retractile strut, here shown as including two telescoping parts I6 and I'I, the part I6 being a guide pivoted at I8 to the frame and the part I`I a rod pivoted at I9 to the rear arm of the differential lever I2, so that when the press is open, the fulcrum rod I'I is telescoped to its full extent in the guide I6, as shown in broken lines in Figure 1, and when the press is closed, as shown in full lines (Figure 1), the fulcrum rod I'I is extended out of the guide part I6 to nearly its full extent, and it is moved into its extended position by the actuating means or by the closing movement vof the press under the action of the actuating means. As the press closes, the yoke lever 5 and differential lever I2 move as a unit from the position shown in broken lines to that shown in full lines (Figure 1), and in so doing, move the fulcrum rodI'I outwardly out of the guide part I6. movement by suitable means shown in Figure 1, as a latch 20, coacting with any one of a series of rack teeth 2l on the fulcrum rod I'I. The teeth are so located that the latch does not come into register with any one thereof, until after the press head 3 has reached the safety-first closed position. Hence, if the press head encounters anything before it has reached a safetyfirst position, as for instance, the hand or ngers of the operator, the fulcrum rod II is free to move retrogradedly, and hence, heavy pressure `vvil1 not be applied.

The latch 20 is here shown as angular in form l and pivoted at its angle at 22 to a lug on the guide part I6, and as pressed into operative position, 4when air or motive uid is permitted to enter the cylinder 8, and to move out of operative position, when the cylinder 8 is exhausted. The

Ytaken from the cylinder 8 through a pipe 26.

The movement of the piston by the air pressure is against the action of a returning spring 2'I. Air is admitted to and exhausted from the cylin- `der 8 through a combined intake and exhaust pipe 29.. Any suitable control valve or valves are located in said pipe, as for instance, those shown The fulcrum rod I'I is held from retrograde in my patent, or any other manually operated valves used in air operated power presses.

In Figure 1' is illustrated a conventional twoway valve 290 having a handle 29|. When the press is open, the valve is in position to exhaust the cylinder 8 through the conduit 29 and exhaust pipe 292. When it is in operated position, the exhaust is closed and the cylinder 8 open to the intake of motive fluid through supply pipe 293.

The guide part I6 is adjustable relatively to its pivot I8 by reason of a slot 28 through which the pivot extends, in order to initially locate or adjust the floating fulcrum mechanism in proper position.

The cylinder and piston motor 8, 9 is single acting andv the closing of the press is against the action of a returning spring 30.

In operation, when air is admitted to the cylinder 8- through the pipe 29, the piston therein moves outwardly, moving the piston rod 9 therewith, and applying a lifting force to the rear arm II of the yoke lever through the differential lever I2, which is held by the spring 30 from pivotal movement, so that the press is closed through a short quick-acting leverage arm represented by the radial distance between the pivots 5 and I4. During this closing movement from the broken line position to the full line position (Figure l), the fulcrum rod |1 is moved outwardly, and when the head reaches closed or safety-first position, the latch 29 engages one of the teeth of the rack 2| and holds the fulcrum rod I1 from retrograde movement, so that now, as the differential lever fulcrums at I9 on the fulcrum rod I1, and as the head 3 has encountered the resistance of the lower pressing element or buck 2, the differential lever moves about its pivot I3 from the full line position (Figure l) to or toward the broken line position, applying pressure through a reduction or long leverage, illustrated by the radial distance between the pivots 6, I3 plus the distance between the pivots I4 and I3, and I3 and I9. Thus, the press is closed through the short quick-acting leverage with a minimum consumption of power and throw of the piston and is closed through a reduction or long leverage by converting the long movement of the piston into a short powerful closing movement of the head 3. When the air is admitted to the cylinder 8 through the pipe 29, some of the air pressure is transferred through the pipe 26 to the cylinder 24 which moves the latch 20 against the fulcrum rod I1 against the action of a returning spring 21, and air pressure continues to be applied, so that when the rack teeth 2| come in .register with the latch 20, the latch is pressed into engagement with the rack teeth.

To open the press, the air is exhausted from the cylinder 8 through the pipe 29, permitting the spring 3B to react and open the press, This operation also releases the pressure in the cylinder 24, permitting the spring 21 to react and withdraw the latch 23 out of holding engagement with the fulcrum rod-|1.

In Figure 2, the press is closed through the same cylinder and piston mechanism, yoke lever and differential lever, as in Figure l, but the floating fulcrum is shown as consisting of a dashpot structure or two telescoping parts, one of which is a cylinder, and the other a piston acting on the rear end of the differential. lever I2 through a folding strut or toggle. This consists of two links 4I, 42 pivoted together at 43, and one, as the link 42 being pivoted at 44 to the frame, and the other-at 45 to the rear arm of the yoke lever I2; the pivot point 45 corresponding to the pivot point I9 (Figure l).

When the pressis in open position, the links 4 I, 42 lare in their positions assumed, indicated by the broken lines (Figure 2) and when the press is closed by the action` of the cylinder and piston motor, the links move into or toward straightened' position, the straightened position being illustratedby the full lines in Figure 2, and when instraightened' position, the differential lever I2 fulcrums and moves relatively toward the rear arm of the yoke lever I I, the same as in Figure 1, and the press goes under final pressure.

The means for holding the fulcrum parts 4| 42 from retrograde movement consists of a second extensible and retractile strut, as a cylinder for. a hydraulic fluid, having a piston therein and a pistonv rod 48 which is pivoted at 49 to one of the toggle links, here shown as the toggle link 42'. One end of the cylinder is connected by a pipe 53 to-a supply tank 5| for a hydraulic fluid, and the other end of the cylinder by a return pipe 52 to the tank 5|. The pipe 50 has a normally open valve 53 therein, which normally permits the flow of oil therethrough in both directions, and is operable to permit the iiow of oil therein in one direction or from the tank 5I into the cylinder and prevent retrograde movement of the oil from the cylinder back through the pipe 55' into the tank. The valve is operable to check retrograde movement of the oil by an air operated instrument, as a diaphragm in a diaphragm chamber 54, the pressure side of the diaphragm chamber being connected by a Vpipe 55 to the cylinder 8, this corresponding to the pipe 23 (Figure l). 'Ihe other side of the diaphragm is operable through part or stem 56 (Figure 4') on the valve head 530 to move it into closed position to check retrograde movement of the oil. rI 'he movement of the diaphragm under pressure is against a returning spring 51. The valve head 530 is formed with passages 53| therethrough, which passages are closed by a springpressed check valve or disk 532 located to prevent back-flow of oil through the passages 53|. When air is admitted to the cylinder 8 through pipe 29, air also passes through pipe 55 to the diaphragm chamber, moving the valve head 530 into closed position against its seat, but oil is free to flow from the tank through the pipe 5|] past the valve through the passages 53|, displacing the disk 532 against the spring 533. However, under back pressure of the oil in the pipe 59, the disk 532 closes the passages 53| and as the valve head 530 is seated, retrograde movement of the oil from the cylinder 46 and hence retrograde movement of the piston rod 48 and the links 4|, 42 and lever I2' is prevented.

As the press` closes under the action of the cylinder and piston motor 89, the links 4|, 42 move toward the straight line position shown by full lines (Figure 2), and in so doing, move the piston and its rod 43 toward the right (Figure 2). During this movement, the piston rod 48 moves the' oil in front of it through the pipe 52 to the tank 5| and the oil from the tank 5| is free to flowV through pipe 5i] to the rear side of the'piston and follow up the piston. However, retrograde movement of the oil back into the tank is preventedby the valve 53, which has been operated, when the air is admitted to the cylinder 8 through pipe 29. Thus, when the head encounters th'e resistance of the buck, the power of the"cylinder"and piston' motor actuates the differential lever I2 relative to the yoke lever and applies heavy pressure.

When the press is to be opened, air is eX- hausted through the pipe 29 from the cylinder 8, also, exhausting air from the diaphragm chamber 54, so that it permits the valve 53 to be moved by its spring 'I into position to permit back flow of oil through the pipe 5U. As the press is opening under the iniluence of the spring 3U, the piston on the rod 48 is moved retrogradely in the cylinder 46 and transfers the oil from behind the piston 46 through the pipe 53 back to the tank 5I. It also flows retrogradely from the tank 5I through the pipe 52 to in front of the piston and follows up the piston during its retrograde movement.

An overload valve 59 is provided in a by-pass 68 around the valve 53, this overload valve being adjusted to permit the retrograde flow of oil from the pipe 55 through the pipe 69 to the tank 5I around the valve 53, when the pressure between the pressing elements 2, 3 becomes excessive or above a desired maximum. This might occur when extremely thick work pieces were being pressed or a new thick padding on the buck 2 was being used. The overload valve is of any well known construction, as for instance, the overload valves used in the lubricating system of internal combustion engines.

In the construction shown in Figure 2, resistance to retrograde movement of the piston 48 takes place as soon as the air is admitted to the cylinder 8 to close the press.

In Figure 3, the resistance of the retrograde movement does not become eiective, as in Figure l, until the press head is closed to a safety-first position.

In Figure 3, 6I and 62 designate the telescoping parts corresponding to the parts I6 and I'I (Figure l), these being a cylinder and a piston rod, the latter being connected to the piston 63 in the cylinder. The cylinder 6I is pivoted at 64 to the frame of the machine, and the piston rod 62 is pivoted at 65 to the rear arm of the differential lever I2, this corresponding to the pivot point I9 (Figure l) 66 is a tank for a hydraulic fluid, this being connected by outlet pipes 6I, 68 to a port 69 at the end of the cylinder 6I remote from the end through which the piston rod 62 extends. 'I6 is a return pipe from the end of the cylinder remote from the port 69 back to the tank 66. II is a bypass opening into the cylinder 6I through a port I2 between the ends thereof, and preferably located near the end remote from the intake port 69, this pipe communicating with the pipe 68. A valve 'I3 similar to the valve 53 (Figure 4) is located at the juncture of the outlet pipes 6'I, 68 of the oil tank 66. This valve 'I3 is operated by a diaphragm in a chamber lll. The pressure side of the diaphragm chamber is connected by a pipe 'I5 to the cylinder 8, the pipe 'I5 corresponding to the pipe 26 (Figure l).

In operation, when air is admitted through the pipe 29 to the cylinder 8, air is also admitted to the diaphragm chamber '14, operating the valve 'I3 to check back-flow of oil from the cylinder 6I to the tank 66. However, as the piston 63 is drawn to the right hand end of the cylinder 6I by the closing movement of the press, the oil in front of the piston or on the right hand side thereof is free to flow through the pipe 'I0 back to the tank, and also incidentally through the bypass 'Il back to the pipe 68. However, if the press head 3 encounters resistance beforie it reaches a safety-first position, any differential movement of the lever I2 would not be transferred to the yoke lever 5, but would be transferred to the piston rod 62, which is free to move in a retrograde direction, by circulating the oil retrogradely through the pipe 68 and by-pass 1| and port 12 around the piston 63, as the piston has nbt yet passed port 12, and hence, heavy pressure will not be applied to the press head 3. The mechanism is so timed that when the head 3 reaches safety-first position, the piston 63 has passed to the right, beyond the port 12, so that oil can not pass from one side of the piston to the other through the by-pass 1I, and hence, the differential lever I2 is free to pivot relatively to the yoke lever 5 or the rear arm thereof and apply heavy pressure.

If it is desired to have the press go under iinal pressure at any time the head 3 encounters resistance, a check valve 89 similar to the valve 53 (Figures 2 and 4) may be placed in the pipe 68 between the by-pass 'II and the port 69. The pressure side of the diaphragm chamber 8| of this valve is also connected, as by a pipe 82, to the cylinder 3. This valve, when used, in ei'ect, cuts out the by-pass II. The pipe 82 has a suitable cut-out valve 83 therein. When the cut-out valve 83 is adjusted to open position, and air is admitted through the pipe 29 to the cylinder 8, the valve 'I3 is operated to prevent back-flow into the tank 66 and also the valve 86 is operated to prevent back-flow through the by-pass 7 I, so that the press operates as if no by-pass Il were employed. As the press closes under the action of the cylinder and piston motor 8 9, the piston 63 moves to the right, and the oil on the right hand side of it, during this movement, is returned to the tank 66 through the return pipe 1U, but retrograde movement of the piston 63 and the oil back through the port 69 to the by-pass 'I4 is prevented by the valve 86. The use of this valve 8i) is referred to primarily as showing one form of follow-up fulcrum that becomes eiective at any point the head 3 may encounter resistance between wide open and closed position and also to show means of cutting out the safety-rst provision, in the event it may be desirable to operate the machine without the safety-first provision, as for instance, in pressing an abnormally thick goods or layers of abnormally thick goods. When the machine is adjusted to eliminate the safetyrst feature, the valve 'I3 functions to prevent the back-now of oil through the by-pass 'II to the tank through the outlet pipe 61. An overload valve and by-pass, similar to the valve 59 and by-pass 63 (Figure 2) may be installed in the pipes 61, 68 around the valves 73, 80. 'Ihe overload valves are of the same nature as those used in the lubricating systems of automobile engines.

In any form of my invention, the dierential lever I2 instead of fulcruming at any fixed point requiring mechanically adjustable fulcrums, as in my patent referred to, fulcrums at any point the press head 3 encounters resistance of the lower buck, and also this point can be located within the safety or safety-rst limits. By reason of the follow-up fulcrum in any of its forms, there is no lost motion or time element between when the head encounters the buck and when the differential lever acts.

What I claim is:

l. In a garment pressing machine, the combination with a suitable frame, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a lever pivoted between its ends to the frame and carrying the movable element on one arm thereof, actuating mechanism for the lever including an actuating part, a differential lever connected to the actuating part, pivoted between its ends to the other arm of the lever, and operable to successively move as a unit with, and relatively to, said lever to successively apply power to the first lever through a short quick-acting leverage to move the movable element from open position toward closed position with relatively small movement of the actuating part, and through a long leverage and greater movement of the actuating part to close the press under heavy pressure, and means for normally restraining relative movement of the first lever and the differential lever; of followup normally idle fulcrum means for the diiferential lever coacting with the differential lever and operable by the closing of the press to follow said differential lever as it moves as a unit with the first lever, means controlled by the closing. of the press for holding the fulcrum means from retrograde movement, all whereby when the movable element encounters resistance sufficient to overcome said restraining means, the differential lever moves about its pivotal axis and fulcrums on said fulcrum means.

2. In a garment pressing machine, the combination with a suitable frame, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a lever pivoted between its ends to the frame and carrying the movable element on one arm thereof, actuating mechanism for the lever including an actuating part, and connections between said part and the other arm of the lever and operable to successively move as a unit with, and relatively to, said lever to successively apply power to the lever through a short quick-acting leverage to move theA movable element from open toward closed position and through a relatively long leverage and greater movement of the actuating part to close the press under final pressure, said connections including a` differential lever element, and means for normally restraining relative movement of said connections and the lever; of fulcrum means for coacting with said lever element and operable by the closing movement of the press for effecting, in conjunction with the actuating part, relative movement of said connections and the first lever against the restraining means, when the movable element encounters resistance in its closing movement, the fulcrum means including two telescoping parts, one being connected to said lever element to move therewith, when said connections are moving as a unit with the rst lever, and means controlled by the vclosing movement of the press for holding the movable telescoping part from retrograde movement.

3. In a garment pressing machine, thev combination with a suitable frame, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a lever pivoted between its ends to the frame and carrying the movable element on one arm thereof, actuating mechanism for the lever including an actuating part, and connections between said part and the other arm of the lever and operable to successively move as a unit with, and relatively to, said lever to successively apply power to the lever through a short quick-acting leverage to move the movable element from open toward closed position and through a relatively long leverage and greater movement of the actuating part to close the press under final pressure, said connections including a differential lever element, and means for normally restraining relative movement of said connections and the lever; of fulorurn means for coasting with said lever element and operable by the closing movement of the press for effecting, in conjunction with the actuating part, relative movement of said connections and the rst lever against the restraining means, when the movable element encounters resistance in its closing movement, said fulcrum Vmeans comprising telescoping parts, one being a dashpot cylinder, the other a piston in the cylinder and having its rod connected to the lever element, means controlled by the closing movement of the press for controlling the flow of a uid to the dash-pot cylinder to the rear side of the piston and trapping the same in the cylinder to hold the piston rod from retrograde movement.

4. In a garment pressing machine, the combination with a suitable frame, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a lever pivoted between its ends to the frame and carrying the movable element on one arm thereof, actuating mechanism including a cylinder and piston, and connections between the rod of the piston and the other arm of the lever and operable to successively move as a unit with, and relatively to, said lever to successively apply power to the lever through a short quick-acting leverage to move the movable element from open toward closed position and through a long leverage to close the press under heavy pressure, said connections including a lever element, and means for normally restraining movement of said connections and the first lever; of follow-up fulcruni means including a dash-pot having a movable piston member connected to said lever element and movable therewith as the press closes, a fluid supply for the dash-pot, a conduit connecting said supply with the dash-pot on one side of the piston member, and a return conduit from the dash-pot from the other side of the piston member, a normally open check valve in the supply conduit to the dash-pot, fluid operated means for operating the check valve into position to prevent back flow from the dash-pot to the supply, and conduit means for supplying motive fluid to and from the cylinder of the actuating means and said fluid operated means for the check valve.

5. In a garment pressing machine, the combination with a suitable frame, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a lever pivoted between its ends to the frame and carrying the movable element on one arm thereof, actuating mechanism including a cylinder and piston, and connections: between the rod of the piston and the other arm of the lever and operable to successively move as a unit with, and relatively to, said lever tosuccessively apply power to the lever through a short quick-acting leverage to move the movable element from open toward closed position and through a long leverage to close the press under heavy pressure, said connections including a lever element, and means for normally restraining movement of said connections and the rst lever; of follow-up fulcrum means including a dash-pot having a movable piston member connected to said lever element and movable therewith as the press closes, a fluid supply for the dash-pot, a conduit connecting said supply with the dashpot and a return conduit from the dash-pot to the supply, said conduits opening into the dashpot on opposite sides of the piston member, a normally open check valve in the supply conduit to the dash-pot, fluid operated means for operating the check valve into position 4to prevent back iiow from the dash-pot to the supply, a bypass having an overload valve therein around the check valve, and conduit means for sup-plying motive iiuid to and from the cylinder of the actuating means and said fluid operated means for the check valve.

6. In a garment pressing machine, the combination with a suitable frame, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a lever pivoted between its ends to the frame and carrying the movable element on one arm thereof, actuating mechanism including a cylinder and piston, and connections between the rod of the piston and the other arm of the lever, and operable to successively move as a unit with, and relatively to, said lever to successively apply power to the lever through a short quick-acting leverage to move the movable element from open toward closed position and through a long leverage to close the press under heavy pressure, said connections including a lever element, and means for normally restraining movement of said connections and the rst lever; of follow-up fulcrum means including a dash-pot having a movable piston member connected to said lever element and movable therewith as the press closes, a fluid supply for the dash-pot, a conduit connecting said supply with the dash-pot and a return conduit from the dash-pot to the supply, said conduits opening into the dash-pot on opposite sides of the piston member, a normally open check valve in the supply conduit to the dash-pot, fluid operated means for operating the check valve into position to prevent back flow from the dash-pot to the supply, and a by-pass communicating with the dashpot through ports at spaced apart points with respect to the movement of the movable member of the dash-pot when the dash-pot is in normal position for permitting free displacement during a portion of the closing movement of the press and arranged to be passed by the piston member during the final closing of the press, whereby said ports are located on the same side of the piston member, when the press is under nal pressure, and conduit means for supplying motive fluid to and from the cylinder of the actuating means and said fluid operated means for the check valve.

7. In a pressing machine including an element having an opening and. closing movement, mechanism for eifecting the opening and closing movement including a lever pivoted between its ends, one arm thereof` serving to transmit the motion of the lever to the movable element and actuating mechanism for the lever including an actuating part, and connections between said part and the other arm of the lever and operable to successively move as a unit with, and relatively to, said lever to successively apply power to the lever through a short quick acting leverage with relatively small movement of the actuating part and through a long leverage and greater movement of the actuating part, the connections including means by which the relative movement thereof is transferred to said lever, means for normally restraining relative movement of said connections and the lever, a second means operable by the closing movement of the press for effecting, in conjunction with the actuating part, relative movement of the lever and said connections against the restraining means when the movable element encounters resistance in its closing movement, and control means for the actuating mechanism.

8. In a pressing machine, the combination of a suitable frame, cooperating pressing elements, one of whichl is movable toward and from the other, mechanism for actuating the movable element including a lever pivoted between its ends and one arm thereof serving to transfer movement to the movable element, actuating mechanism for the lever including an actuating part, a differential lever pivoted between its ends to the other arm of the rst lever and operable to successively move as a unit with, and relatively to, the first lever, means for normally restraining relative movement of the rst lever and the differential lever and follow-up fulcrum means for the diiferential lever, said fulcrum means being operable by the closing of the press to follow up Vsaid differential lever as it moves as a unit with the first lever, means for holding the'fulcrum means for retrograde movement, all whereby when the movable element encounters resistance, the diiferential lever fulcrums on the follow-up fulcrum and moves about its pivot relatively to the rst lever against the restraining means and control means for the actuating mechanism and said means for holding the follow-up fulcrum from retrograde movement.

9. In a garment pressing machine, the combination with a suitable frame, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a lever pivoted between its ends to the frame and carrying the movable element on one arm thereof, actuating mechanism for the lever including an actuating part, a differential lever pivoted between its ends to the other arm of the first lever, one arm of the differential lever being connected to said part, means for normally restraining relative movement of the rst lever and the differential lever, so that the iirst lever and the diierential lever are normally held from relative movement by the restraining means; of normally-idle followup fulcrum means coacting with the other arm of the differential lever andoperable by the closing of the press to follow said differential lever, as it movesras a unit with the first lever, means for holding the fulcrum means from retrograde movement in its follow-up movement, and oplerator-operated means for controlling the operation of the actuating mechanism and the fulcrum holding means.

HERBERT E. PAGE. 

